BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The Caribbean Community will delay the start of a special tourist visa for visitors traveling to the region for the cricket World Cup, an official said.

The visa had been slated to take effect Jan. 9. But tourism officials said they were concerned that non-cricket visitors could be affected by the March 13-April 28 tournament, Barbadian deputy prime minister Mia Mottley said late Thursday

Tourists can use the visa, which would cut down on lines at border check points in the nine countries hosting matches, starting Feb. 1, Mottley said. The visa also can be used in Dominica and is good until May 15.

More than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the tournament, which is being held for the first time in the Caribbean.